hr.thecarpetbaggers-第111部分

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e　time　for　her　father　to　go　to　bed。　He　had　a　WPA　job　and　had　to　be　at　work　very　early。
　〃Oh；　all　right；〃　she　said　quietly。
　Some　of　the　tension　left　his　voice。　〃Good；　Jennie。　I'll　be　there　in　twenty　minutes。　I　love　you。〃
　〃I　love　you；〃　she　said　and　heard　the　click　as　he　put　down　the　phone。　She　replaced　the　receiver　and　slowly　took　off　her　coat。　Carefully　she　put　it　back　in　the　closet；　walked　over　to　the　couch　and　sat　down。　She　lit　a　cigarette　thoughtfully。
　Who　would　have　thought　when　she　came　to　work　here；　three　months　ago；　that　he'd　fall　in　love　with　her？　And　she　with　him。　But　then；　how　could　she　help　herself？　Especially　when　she　knew　what　it　was　like　for　him　at　home。　Married　to　a　spoiled　rich　young　woman　who　constantly　threw　up　to　him　that　it　was　her　money　that　had　enabled　him　to　open　his　office；　that　it　was　her　father's　influence　that　had　established　him　in　the　munity。　Married　to　a　woman　who　bore　him　three　children　not　out　of　love　for　him　but　out　of　an　insane　desire　to　keep　him　forever　bound　to　her。
　No　wonder　he'd　found　refuge　in　his　work　and　spent　almost　every　waking　moment　at　his　practice。　Now　she　understood　what　drove　him。　And　those　girls　and　young　women　who　came　for　his　surgery？　And　he'd　explained　why　he　did　it；　she　understood　that；　too。
　She　saw　the　inner　kindness　in　his　sensitive　face　as　he　spoke。　〃What　am　I　to　do；　Jennie？〃　he'd　asked。　〃Turn　them　away　and　let　them　ruin　their　lives　because　of　one　foolish　mistake？　Or　let　them　fall　into　the　hands　of　some　quack　who'll　make　them　sick　forever　or　perhaps　even　kill　them；　all　because　of　some　outworn　religious　code？　Religious　laws　like　that　have　hung　on　until　gradually　they've　bee　dogma；　just　like　the　Jewish　nonsense　about　kosher　meat。　Even　our　civil　laws　permit　abortion　under　certain　circumstances。　Someday；　it　will　be　open　and　aboveboard；　as　it　is　in　many　countries　throughout　the　world　…　Cuba；　Denmark；　Sweden；　many　others。〃
　He'd　turned　his　deep…set　brown　eyes　toward　her。　〃I　took　an　oath　when　I　became　a　doctor；　that　I　would　strive　to　do　my　best　for　my　patients；　to　help　them　in　every　way　I　could；　physically　and　psychologically。　That　oath　is　more　important　than　anything　else　to　me。　When　some　poor；　frightened　child　es　to　me　for　help；　I　can't　play　God　and　refuse　her。〃
　It　made　sense　to　her。　There　were　many　things　about　the　church　she　did　not　understand。　She　knew　how　they'd　acted　in　her　own　case　and　the　bitterness　still　rankled　deep　within　her。　If　her　goodness　had　been　so　important；　why　wouldn't　they　e　forward　to　support　her　good　name？　All　they　really　sought　was　power　over　her；　not　responsibility　for　her。
　So；　gradually　she'd　e　to　recognize　the　women　who　came　to　him　for　help　and　feel　a　passion　for　them。　The　young　matron　who　couldn't　afford　to　leave　her　job　because　already　she　and　her　husband　had　more　children　than　they　could　support；　the　frightened　young　girls；　some　still　in　school　or　just　out；　the　middle…aged　women　just　approaching　the　change　of　life；　with　their　families　already　grown；　even　the　call　girls；　who　lived　casually　from　day　to　day；　yet　came　into　the　office　with　a　haunting　fear　buried　deep　beneath　their　bright；　brittle　laughter。　She　had　the　capacity　to　feel　sorry　for　them；　even　as　he　had。　And　from　there；　it　was　only　one　step　to　falling　in　love　with　him。
　It　happened　after　she'd　been　there　about　a　month。　She　was　upstairs　in　the　apartment　and　heard　a　noise　in　the　office　below。　It　was　about　eight　o'clock　at　night。　At　first；　she　was　confused；　thinking　that　this　was　an　office　night。　But　then　she　realized　it　was　Tuesday；　and　the　doctor　had　office　hours　only　on　Monday；　Wednesday　and　Friday　evenings。　She　turned　down　the　flame　under　the　coffeepot　and　reaching　for　her　robe；　went　down　to　investigate。
　When　she　opened　the　door　to　his　private　office　and　looked　in；　he　was　seated　behind　his　desk；　his　face　gray　and　tired…looking。　〃I　beg　your　pardon；　Doctor。　I　didn't　know　it　was　you。　I　heard　a　noise…　〃
　He　smiled　wearily。　〃That's　all　right；　Miss　Denton。〃
　〃Good　night；　Doctor；〃　she　said；　starting　to　close　the　door。
　〃Just　a　minute；　Miss　Denton；〃　he　said　suddenly。
　She　opened　the　door　and　looked　at　him。　〃Yes；　Doctor？〃
　He　smiled　again。　〃We've　been　so　busy；　I　haven't　had　time　to　ask。　Are　you　happy　here？〃
　She　nodded。　〃Yes；　Doctor。　Very。〃
　〃I'm　glad。〃
　〃You　ought　to　be　getting　home；　Doctor。　You　look　exhausted。〃
　〃Home？〃　he　asked；　a　wry　smile　ing　to　his　lips。　〃This　is　my　home；　Miss　Denton。　I　just　sleep　in　that　other　place。〃
　〃I…　I　don't　understand；　Doctor。〃
　〃Of　course　you　don't；〃　he　said　gently。　〃I　wouldn't　expect　you　to。　You're　much　too　young　and　beautiful　to　worry　about　the　likes　of　me。〃　He　got　to　his　feet。　〃Go　back　upstairs　now；　Miss　Denton。　I'll　try　to　be　very　quiet　and　not　disturb　you。〃
　The　light　from　the　lamp　on　his　desk　shining　up　onto　his　face　made　him　look　even　more　handsome　than　usual。　She　stood　in　the　doorway；　staring　at　him。　She　felt　her　heart　pumping　strangely　within　her。　〃But　I　do　worry　about　you；　Doctor。　You　work　too　hard。〃
　〃I'll　be　all　right；〃　he　said　in　a　toneless　voice。　He　turned　to　look　at　her　and　their　eyes　locked　and　held。　It　seemed　as　if　she　were　spinning　into　a　swirling　vortex　deep　in　his　gentle　brown　eyes。　She　felt　a　trembling　in　her　legs　and　placed　her　hand　on　the　doorjamb　quickly；　to　support　herself。　No　words　came　to　her　lips；　she　stared　at　him；　speechless。
　〃Is　anything　wrong；　Miss　Denton？〃
　It　took　a　desperate　effort　for　her　to　shake　her　head。　〃No；〃　she　whispered；　forcing　her　eyes　to　turn　away。　〃No。〃　Suddenly；　she　turned　and　ran　toward　the　stairway。
　She　wasn't　even　aware　that　he　had　e　after　her　until　he　caught　her　in　the　doorway　of　her　apartment。　The　warmth　of　his　hand　touching　her　shoulder　came　through　the　thin　robe。　〃Are　you　afraid　of　me；　Jennie？〃　he　asked　harshly。
　She　looked　up　into　his　face　and　saw　the　anguish　in　his　eyes。　A　curious　weakness　came　over　her　and　she　would　have　fallen　if　he　had　not　been　holding　her。　〃No；〃　she　whispered。
　〃Then　what　is　it？〃
　She　looked　down；　not　speaking；　the　warmth　from　his　hand　beginning　to　radiate　into　a　fire　inside　her。　〃Tell　me！〃　he　urged；　shaking　her。
　She　looked　up　at　him；　the　tears　ing　into　her　eyes。　〃I　can't。〃
　〃You　can；　Jennie；　you　can；〃　he　said　insistently。　〃I　know　what　you　feel。　You　feel　the　same　things　I　feel。　I　can't　sleep　without　dreaming　of　you；　without　feeling　you　close　to　me。〃
　〃No。　Please！　It's　not　right。〃
　His　strong　surgeon's　hand　held　her　chin。　〃I　love　you；　Jennie；〃　he　said。　〃I　love　you。〃
　She　stared　up　into　his　eyes；　seeing　his　face　ing　closer　and　closer；　then　his　mouth　pressed　down　on　hers。　She　closed　her　eyes　for　a　moment；　feeling　the　fire　envelop　her。　Abruptly　she　tore　her　face　away。　She　backed　into　the　apartment。　He　stepped　in　after　her；　kicking　the　door　shut　with　his　foot。　〃You　love　me；〃　he　said。　〃Say　it！〃
　Her　eyes　were　wide　as　she　stared　up　at　him。　〃No；〃　she　whispered。
　He　stepped　forward　again；　his　strong　fingers　digging　deep　into　her　shoulders。　〃Say　it！〃　he　manded　harshly。
　She　felt　the　weakness　as　his　touch　flowed　through　her　again。　She　couldn't　turn　her　face　from　his　eyes。　〃I　love　you；〃　she　said。
　He　pressed　his　mouth　to　hers　again　and　kissed　her。　She　felt　his　hands　inside　her　robe；　his　fingers　on　her　back　unfastening　her　brassière；　her　breasts　rising　from　their　restraint；　the　nipples　leaping　joyfully　into　his　hands。　A　shiver　of　ecstasy　raced　through　her　and　she　almost　fell。　〃Please　don't；〃　she　whispered；　her　lips　moving　under　his。　〃It's　wrong。〃
　He　picked　her　up　in　his　arms　and　carried　her　across　the　room　to　the　bed。　He　placed　her　on　it　gently　and　knelt　beside　her。　〃When　a　man　and　a　woman　are　in　love；〃　he　whispered；　〃nothing　they　do　in　the　privacy　of　their　own　home　is　ever　wrong。　And　this　is　our　home。〃
　He　pressed　his　lips　down　on　her　mouth　again。
　
　Tom　looked　across　the　table　at　the　kitchen　clock。　It　was　a　few　minutes　past　ten。　He　folded　his　newspaper。　〃I　guess　she　won't　be　ing　now；〃　he　said；　〃so　I　might　as　well　be　turning　in。〃　He　got　to　his　feet。　〃The　boys　down　at　the　Alliance　tell　me　I'll　be　making　supervisor　any　day　now；　so　I　better　get　my　sleep。　It　won't　do　for　me　to　be　showing　up　late　to　work。〃
　Ellen　sniffed　contemptuously。　〃If　ye　keep　listenin'　to　them　munists　down　at　the　Workers'　Alliance；　you'll　be　lucky　even　to　hold　your　job　with　the　WPA。〃
　〃They're　in　pretty　good；　you　can't　deny　that。　It　was　them　that　got　me　onto　full　time　instead　of　half　time　and　you　know　it。　It's　them　that's　for　the　working　man。〃
　〃munists　are　heathens；〃　she　said。　〃Father　Hadley　told　me　they're　against　the　church　because　they　don't　believe　in　God。　He　says　they're　only　playing　up　to　the　workin'　man　until　they　get　in　power；　like　in　Russia。　Then　they'll　close　the　churches　and　make　slaves　out　of　us　all。〃
　〃What　if　they　are？〃　he　asked。　〃I　don't　see　Father　Hadley　getting　me　a　job　or　paying　our　bills。　No；　it　was　the　Alliance　that　put　me　to　work　and　saw　to　it　I　earned　enough　to　pay　rent　and　buy　food。　I　don't　care　what　Father　Hadley　calls　them；　as　long　as　they　do　good　for　me。〃
　She　smiled　bitterly。　〃A　fine　family　I　have。　A　husband　who's　a　munist　and　a　daughter　who　never　has　the　time　to　e　home。〃
　〃Maybe　she's　busy；〃　Tom　said　lamely。　〃You　know　it's　a　responsible　position　she's　got。　Didn't　the　sister　at　St。　Mary's　say；　when　she　graduated；　that　she　was　very　lucky　to　be　working　for　such　an　important　doctor？〃
　〃Yes；　but　she　still　should　e　home　once　in　a　while。　I'm　willin'　to　bet　she　hasn't　been　to　Mass　since　she　left　St。　Mary's。〃
　〃How　do　you　know？〃　Tom　asked　angrily。　〃St。　Paul's　ain't　the　only　church　in　San　Francisco。〃
　〃I　know；〃　she　said。　〃I　feel　it。　She　doesn't　want　to　e　see　us。　She's　makin'　so　much　money　now；　she's　ashamed　of　us。〃
　〃And　what　has　she　got　to　be　proud　of？　With　you　preaching　religion　at　her　all　the　time　and　the　boys　on　the　street　still　sniggering　and　laughing　behind　her　back　when　she　walks　by？　Do　you　think　that's　something　to　make　a　young　girl　want　to　e　home？〃
　Ellen　ignored　him。　〃It's　not　right　that　a　girl　should　stay　away　like　this；〃　she　said　stubbornly。　〃We　both　know　what　goes　on　up　there　on　the　hill；　with　everybody　sleepin'　with　each　other's　wives　and　the　drink。　I　read　the　papers；　too；　ye　know。〃
　〃Jennie's　a　good　girl。　She　wouldn't　do　a　thing　like　that。〃
　〃I'm　not　too　sure。　Sometimes　a　taste　of　temptation　is　l